Treñas Seeks DPWH Help to Hasten JM Basa Drainage Project

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office to intervene and expedite the delayed drainage project along JM Basa Street, also known as Calle Real, in the City Proper.

In a letter dated December 17, Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed his frustration to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan regarding the apparent lack of urgency from the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO), headed by District Engineer Roy C. Pacanan.

“I implore your urgent intervention for speedy and expeditious completion of the project to ease the heavy traffic in this area,” Treñas wrote.

The ICDEO had initially committed to completing the engineering works on December 13, 2024, but later requested an extension to December 16, 2024.

Recently, Pacanan further appealed to move the completion date to December 20, 2024.

“It appears that the district engineer has no sense of urgency and is insensitive to the plight of more than 500,000 residents of Iloilo City who have been tremendously affected by the delayed project completion,” Treñas said.

The city government had earlier declared Pacanan persona non grata in June, branding him “undesirable and unwelcome” in Iloilo City.

Although the declaration carries no legal weight, it can cause reputational damage and affect professional relationships with the local government.

Treñas described Pacanan’s actions as “unprofessional,” adding that they contradict DPWH’s tagline “Serbisyong May Bilis: Building Better More for a New Philippines,” which emphasizes speed, quality, integrity, and efficient use of public funds for infrastructure development.

Residents and business owners have raised concerns about heavy traffic, inconvenience, and daily disruptions caused by the prolonged construction.

“JM Basa Street or Calle Real is one of the busiest streets in old downtown Iloilo, considering the presence of commercial and business activities in the area,” Treñas stressed.

During a recent meeting with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), the ICDEO assured that restoration of the excavated areas would be completed by December 16.

The affected lanes will be reopened to motorists, easing traffic congestion in time for the holidays, the Dinagyang Festival, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

The JM Basa Street drainage project, with a budget of PHP 49.4 million, aims to improve the area’s drainage system by channeling water flow from Plazoleta Gay and Ledesma Street into a box culvert on Guanco Street.

This design establishes JM Basa Street as a primary floodwater pathway from Iznart Street.

The project, which spans from Socorro Drug Store to Guanco Street, was initially scheduled to start on March 21, 2024, and conclude by January 2025.

However, the contractor and ICDEO are now targeting completion by April 2025, though additional delays may occur depending on construction progress next year.